Saturday will be the 131st meeting between the programs, the fourth most games Rhode Island has played against any opponent. Providence holds a 73-57 edge in the series.

Rhode Island won last year's meeting, 75-68, to snap a seven-game losing streak in the series.

The last time Rhode Island beat the Friars at the Dunkin Donuts Center was a 73-71 victory on Dec. 7, 2002.

The team's have met at least once every season dating back to 1943-44.

Providence comes into the game with two straight wins, and four victories in its last five games.

This is Rhode Island's third game against Division I programs in the state. The Rams are looking for a sweep of the DI programs, having defeated Bryant, 97-63, and Brown, 71-51.

The battle in the paint will be key. Rhode Island's Cyril Langevine and Providence's Alpha Diallo are two of the nation's best rebounders. Langevine is 11th in the country and leads the Atlantic 10 with 11.2 boards per game, while Diallo is 42nd and leads the Big East with 9.3.

Langevine had four double-doubles, while Diallo has three.

DEFENSE SHUTTING DOWN THE PERIMETER

Rhode Island has defended the perimeter exceptionally well this season, ranking second in the country, allowing a league-low .213 shooting percentage from 3-point range this season.

Opponents are just 26-of-122 from the arc on the year.

Through five games, only one opponent has shot better than 20.0 percent from 3-point range. Harvard shot 38.1 percent (8-for-21).

Stony Brook (4-for-20) shot exactly 20.0 percent from the arc, while Bryant (6-for-34), Brown (5-for-29) and College of Charleston (3-for-18) all made less than 17.6 percent of their attempts.

RAMS TAKING CHARGE ON DEFENSE

Rhode Island is making a habit of getting in the way of the opposition, drawing 22 offensive fouls through the first five games of the season.